Austin Butler Addresses ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Rumors

Last month, during our DisInsider Mailbag we were asked about the Pirates of the Caribbean reboot and what we have heard. We shared that Austin Butler (Dune Part Two) was a name Disney likes. Well, Butler was asked about the possibility of joining the billion-dollar franchise.

While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Butler revealed he did not hear about the rumor. “I loved Pirates of the Caribbean, I mean who knows? I haven’t heard anything about that”, Butler says and he goes on to share his love for the original films and what Johnny Depp did for the original franchise. “That’s a hard one to touch because they did it so well. I love what Johnny did with that.”

Disney is working on multiple Pirates of the Caribbean projects. One project with writer Jeff Nathanson (Young Woman and the Sea). The other the Margot Robbie-centric film being written by Christina Hodson (Bumblebee).

As of now, it is still unknown if Johnny Depp will return as Captain Jack Sparrow, but it is not looking like it at this point.  It was previously rumored that The Bear star Ayo Edibiri was circling a role in the franchise, but that has yet to be confirmed at this time.

The franchise originated with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme ride attraction, which opened at Disneyland in 1967, the last Disney theme park attraction overseen by Walt Disney. The attraction can be found at four Disney theme parks. Since then, it has become a moneymaker, the five films have grossed over $4.5 billion at the worldwide box office. The franchise has also become a revenue booster in video games, merchandise, and more.